Chhattisgarh turns to CFL bulbs to save energy

Raipur, May 4 (IANS) Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) bulbs will replace the conventional incandescent bulbs in state government offices and state-run boards and corporations in Chhattisgarh as part of an exercise to save energy and meet rising demand for electricity. “The energy department has imposed a ban on the use of incandescent bulbs. These will be replaced by CFL bulbs in all state government offices, boards, corporations and state-run agencies,” Anil Tuteja, joint secretary in the departmnt of energy, told IANS Sunday.

He said the CFL bulbs have 10 times longer lifetime than those of incandescent bulbs and consume just one-quarter of the power.

“The ban has been imposed with immediate effect,” said Tuteja.

The civic bodies in the state have been asked to replace the incandescent bulbs used in street lights, parks and public places besides banning the use of high-mast lights.

They have been instructed to use solar energy and make arrangements to install the required equipment.

The state government move to phase out incandescent bulbs and replace these with energy-saving CFL bulbs is aimed to save power and to tackle rise in electricity consumption in the hot summer season.

Chhattisgarh’s power consumption was about 900 MW when the state came into existence in November 2000. It has now gone up to 2,400 MW during peak hours. The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB) generates 1,923 MW while the rest is purchased from private players and drawn from the central pool.